Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-21
THE TORNADO!
"God Moves in a Myterious Way,
His Wonders to Perform;
HG Plants Els Footsteps in The Sea,
And Rides Upon The Storm"
THE MOST DESOLATING STORM
EVER KNOWN In THIS
PART OF OHIO.
ITS COURSE MARKED BY RUINED BUILDINGS
AND FRUSTRATED FORESTS.
Almost Irreparable Damage Panic at the
School BuiIding-No Lives Lost
Steps to Secure Relief.

The unusually warm weather OF tni
I week eoding last Friday terminated il
a tornado Of an appalling character
About o'clock it became very dark
This lasted but a few moments, aDt
when the clouds lifted somewhat il
was discovered the wind in the ives,
was driving the clouds from the north
and the south into a common center
and il that center a terrible battle OF
the clouds was in progress. Below this
appeared section of eopper-colOred
clouds, reaching the horizon. In few
minutes a deep rOar-the like of which
was never before heard in these parts
then in few seconds black column,
: reaching from the low clouds to the
earth. came moving upon the town, its
top swinging to the north, its angry tail
sweeping around like lash, and leav
ing ruin wherever it touched. When
FIRST seen it resembled a dense column
of smoke issuing from a locomotive, in
size from volcano. The lower border
was of gray color, but gradually be-
came darker until at the top it was as
black as coal smoke. The motion of
the column was rotary and very eccen~
Itric, and its roar like unto that of Mag
ara. The column seemed fully an eighth
of mile in diameter, and swept from
beyond the Presbyterian church and
Main street on the north to the resi-
dence of Benz Barkhurst on the south.
Here it encountered cross current and
its course was changed from southwest
to northeast. The noise of the crum-
bling walls, tumbling roofs, and crash
ing trees was drowned by the mighty
roar of the hurricane.
There is something terribly sublime in
the appearance of such a phenomena as
it rushes and roars through space. its
swayiDg top reaching to the clouds,
moving here and there in its eccentric
course,b but steadily and swiftly forward.
and its tail threshing around like that
of wild beast. On either side and in
front of it the wind was driven with
the speed of the hurricane. and as it
passed the enormous vacuum was filled
with the rushing winds. Every grain
of dust on the streets. apparently, was
lifted into the air. For a few seconds
the darkness of midnight prevailed. and
no noise was heard save the awful roar
of the tornado.
Mr.. A. T. McKelvey, who witnessed
it from his orchard, south of town, says:
standing helplessly upon the border
and viewing the appalling wreck Ct de-
struction wrought by the cyclone in its
flight was to me a sublime but awful
spectacle. The town was concealed
from view during the work of destTuc-
ton. but looking down upon the fair
ground l witnessed fences. stables. and
exhibition halls OVerturning like sheets
of manifold, while the grand old oaks
were overthrown like puny saplings.'
THE DAMAGES WROUGHT.
/ At this writing, we have information
that the tornado passed Antrim, in the
north part of Guernsey county, and
through Sewellsville. this county; but
we have no authentic information of
damage done until it resched the Bel
mont County Intirmary. Here the large
and fine barn. built few years ago, at
cost Of $1,000. was destroyed. No se>
rious damage was done the Infrmary,
nor the hospital. Charles Pickering's
barn was destroyed.
Thomas Cochran's barn was wrecked,
and bis dwelling damaged.
The fine brick residence of c. W. Pat
ton, recently owned and occupied by
Hon. L. Danford. was demolished. to
gether with bis barn and other out
buildings. Mrs Patton and her children
were in the cellar, but escaped uuin
ljured.
The dwelling and planning mill of
Of John w Coleman we're totally de.
stroyed and scattered in every direction.
Nothing but the foundations were left.
Mr. Colemsn's family were in the house.
None severely hurt. The baby was
found in the pike. some distance from
the house, uninjured.
Crossing the pike at this roint it
swept up the bill through the orchard
of the Riley heirs, clesving its way
through the trees and demolishing the
fine orchard. The house-the finest sui
burbsn place in the neighborhood was
demolished, together with most of its
beautiful surroundings, and the out
buildings. The family fed to the lawn.
catching at trees as it approached. A
tree to which Mr. John Riley was cling
ing went down, and his leg was crushed.
!, He was carried to the dwelling of Mr.
Wm Lee, near by. and is we'll cared for.
; The loss here will reacn $4,000 to S., 5000
, Mr. Lees house was damaged to some
extent.
Passing down the hill, Major Neis wan.
gers large brick was 50 BADLY shattered
: that it must be taken down
James Keys house was uuroufed, and
otherwise seriously damaged. DR. Balph's
Y residence-a frame building. but one OF
:. the handsomest in town-was split al
the comb, and some what bulged on the
north side, but it is thought can be
! made rs good as new.
: Mrs Stamps residence, a two-story
D brick, was so badly damaged that she
: had to remove her furniture, and the
building must be pulled down. if, in
|, , deed, it does not fall.
!. Two frame houses. across the street,
belonging to Alex Anderson, were left